Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club

Glen o' The Downs,
Delgany,
Co. Wicklow
Glenview Hotel enquiries
Glenview Hotel ,Wicklow

• Panoramic location overlooking the garden of Ireland
• 5 star Leisure Centre & Haven Beauty Rooms
• Great Golf opportunities

I remember lovely Sunday lunches when I was growing up in South County Dublin and the family used to drive out to the Glenview Hotel for a family treat. We really felt we were in the countryside; such is the spectacular scenery here, known as the Glen of the Downs. With recent road improvements over the past few years, it is now more accessible than ever, and still remains a firm favourite with families from Dublin. I visited a couple of years ago again, and then revisited once more recently and this time I was delighted to find that it took me just forty minutes to reach the hotel from Dublin airport travelling from the M50 to the N11. We enjoyed a cup of tea when we arrived in the Conservatory Bar, as the name implies offers great views of the surrounding countryside. We really felt that we left the city well behind us.

ACCOMMODATION AT THE GLENVIEW

We drove up the tree-lined laneway to plenty of parking and immediately enjoyed a breathtaking view of the mountains and woodlands of County Wicklow. The lobby is spacious and check in was friendly and soon we were ensconced in our bright spacious room with all the comforts we look for – robes and slippers, plenty of towels and good toiletries, an iron, a large bathroom, desk for working and comfortable space for sitting. We were delighted to see that there was complimentary Wi-fi access throughout the hotel. We settled in.

LEISURE AT THE GLENVIEW

The health and leisure centre is really first class, and we enjoyed a swim and sauna there before dinner. They have very extensive facilities at the Leisure Club including Yoga and Pilates classes and personal training facilities. Very popular with guests, this exceptionally good leisure centre is a great addition to the hotel. It is situated to the side of the main hotel building. Within the main body of the hotel are The Haven Treatment Rooms, and while not claiming to be a spa, they carry a full range of luxurious treatments. I enjoyed a beautiful facial and my companion had a full body massage. Both treatments were customized to suit our skin types and energy levels and were both professional and pampering.

WOODLANDS RESTAURANT AT THE GLENVIEW

The first thing that strikes you about this restaurant is how well appointed it is, every table enjoys a share of the panoramic countryside views and yet there is a sense of space and privacy around each table. Menus offered both A La Carte and Table D’hote choices and made good use of local and seasonal ingredients. We were informed that some fresh scallops had just come in, so we had those for one starter and tempura of Tiger prawns for the other. With a glass of Chablis, these were a great start altogether! Since I was in the Garden County of Ireland, I had to go for Wicklow lamb, and enjoyed a succulent Rack of Lamb while my friend opted for the Tournedos of Irish Beef Fillet. Both were cooked to order and came with roast garlic jus and red wine jus respectively. The wine list was very comprehensive, and we decided to have a real French classic with these dishes. A superb bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape did the job brilliantly. It was a rich and wonderful repast, and we savoured our meal slowly and honestly enjoyed every morsel.

Breakfast is also served in this lovely dining room with its stunning views over the Glen of the Downs. Fresh fruit, pastries, table service together with a hot buffet section provided plenty of choice.
While the hotel was full of families when we stayed last time – it was during the school holidays – the hotel appeals to corporate clients as well as families, and has state-of-art facilities for business, secretarial services, ISDN lines, video conferencing etc.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and took our time over the duration of our stay. It felt like we were having a day off school! To add to the feeling of freedom in the countryside, we went for a walk around the gardens that are beautifully maintained with colour all the year round. There are thirty acres of gardens and woodland to explore, and then there is the golf. There are golfing packages available at the hotel and preferential green fees from most of Wicklow’s top golf courses. These include Powerscourt Golf Club, Roundwood, Greystones and Charlesland Golf Clubs. Next trip we will bring the clubs and avail of some of these lovely picturesque courses. Another tip for next visit, book the penthouse and enjoy the best views in the whole of County Wicklow!